| Punpun River | |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | India |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Jharkhand, Bihar |
| Subdivision Type5: | City |
| Subdivision Name5: | Obra |
| Length: | 200km (100miles) |
| Source1 Location: | Palamu district, Chota Nagpur Plateau, Jharkhand |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 24.1833°N 93°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 300m (1,000feet) |
| Mouth: | Ganges |
| Mouth Location: | Fatuha |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 25.5139°N 85.2961°W |
| Basin Size: | 8530km2 |
The Punpun River is a tributary of the Ganges. It originates in Palamu district of Jharkhand and flows through Chatra, Aurangabad, Gaya and Patna districts of the Indian states of Jharkhand and Bihar.[1] Punpun is a place named after the Punpun river in Patna which is situated on the bank of Punpun river. On the bank of Punpun people celebrate Chhath Puja.
The Punpun originates on the Chota Nagpur Plateau, at an elevation of . The river mostly flows in a north-east direction and joins the Ganges at Fatuha, downstream of Patna.[2]
Many towns such as Sigori are located on the banks of the river.
The main tributaries of the Punpun are – the Butane, the Madar and the Mohar.[2]
The long river is mostly rainfed and carries little water in the dry season. However, during rains, the Punpun often causes heavy flood damages east of Patna city. The catchment area of the Punpun is . Agricultural area in the Punpun basin is about . The average annual rainfall for the basin is .[2]
This river is mentioned in the Vayu and the Padma Puranas in connection with Gaya Mahatmya as the punah-punah (again and again) of which Pun-Pun is the colloquial form. The river might have been called by this name because it was frequently in spate. The Puranas interpret the word punah-punah in a spiritual sense that sins are removed again and again by offering oblations to forefathers in the river.[3] [4]